PATIENTS WITH MARFAN SYNDROME OR A RELATED DISORDER ARE AT 250 TIMES GREATER RISK OF AORTIC DISSECTION THAN
THE GENERAL POPULATION.

Symptoms of aortic dissection can be variable, relatively minor, and nonspecific. CHEST
PAIN IS THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOM, BUT PAIN CAN ALSO OCCUR IN THE BACK AND/OR ABDOMEN. The pain maybe described as SEVERE
OR VAGUE, CONSTANT OR INTERMITTENT, MIGRATORY, TEARING, TIGHTNESS OR FULLNESS. Other signs and symptoms can include
CARDIOVASCULAR INSTABILITY, PULSENESS, PARATHESIAE, PARALYSIS, SYNCOPE OR A SENSE THAT SOMETHING IS TERRIBLY WRONG.

The most definitive tests for Aortic Dissection are:

CT SCAN - TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAM - MRI

Choose the one that is most readily available, and expertly performed and interpreted.

Keep in mind that a normal
x-ray does NOT rule out the possibility of Aortic Dissection.

(You can receive an Emergency Alert
Card by contacting the Marfan Foundation at www.marfan.org )

PLEASE NOTE: There are a lot of people who do
not know they have Marfans (or possible one of the many similar conditions such as Loeys-Dietz Syndrome, MASS Phenotype, Ehlers
Danlos Syndrome, Marfan Hypermobility Syndrome, etc. to name a few) and it is important for all ER staff to be alert to the
symptoms listed above. It it also important to be aware that not all Marfan syndrome patients have the classic body type of
tall, thin, etc. There are many patients who have been diagnosed with Marfans that are not tall and/or thin. - Jon R.
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